Every Friday I will post my bookmail. Some of the books will be features or spotlights and some will be reviewed.
Dope by E.S.P-print copy 
Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs-print copy from Harper Collins
Friday, March 14, 2025
Book Mail for the Week ending 3/12
Every Friday I will post my bookmail. Some of the books will be features or spotlights and some will be reviewed.
Dope by E.S.P-print copy 
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Book Blitz for Lost and Found Cowboy by Jennie Marts with a GIVEAWAY
Lost and Found Cowboy
Jennie Marts
(Lassiter Ranch, #4)
Publication date: March 11th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
He came to find a family. He never expected to find love.
After meeting the three half-brothers he never knew existed, cowboy Mack Lassiter decides to stay and try to build a new life in the small Colorado mountain town of Woodland Hills. But he didn’t expect to find another family in Lorna Gibbs, the sweet single mom and local coffee shop owner, whose strength and warmth instantly captivated him.
Lorna’s not looking for love—her only focus is on giving her son and infant daughter the stable life they all deserve. The last thing she needs is a tall cowboy stirring up feelings she’s locked away for years. But Mack isn’t just any man—he’s steady, kind, and a little broken, just like her.
When her no-good ex suddenly returns and starts threatening her and the life she’s built, Mack steps in to play the role of devoted boyfriend. But as their charade deepens and the threat from Lorna’s ex intensifies, their fake relationship blurs into something real. And now they’ll have to decide if they can trust each other enough to build a family that’s anything but pretend.
She’s done with men. He doesn’t believe anyone stays. But a fake relationship might be just what they need to find something real…
**Each book in the Lassiter Ranch series can be read as a standalone—a boots-knockin’ hot cowboy HEA guaranteed in every one!**
The Lassiter Ranch Series
Save the Date For a Cowboy: Prequel Novella
Love at First Cowboy: Book 1
Overdue for a Cowboy: Book 2
Second Chance with a Cowboy: Book 3
Lost and Found Cowboy: Book 4Readers will love this small town, western romance series filled with wounded cowboys, curvy wallflower heroines, second chances, friends to lovers, fake relationships, unrequited love, forced proximity, and grumpy versus sunshine.
**Want to see how the whole Lassiter Ranch series started–with a cute cowboy, a curvy accountant and one wild weekend at a wedding? Get SAVE THE DATE FOR A COWBOY, the prequel novella to the series for FREE when you sign up for Jennie’s newsletter at: https://BookHip.com/HZFKARX **
—
EXCERPT:
As Lorna and Mack are in the parking lot getting ready to go on their first fake date…
No, she was an adult. She just needed to pull up her big girl panties and face going out on a fake date with a hot cowboy on her own.
She twisted the strap of her purse around her fist as she peered around the parking lot, trying to see if she recognized any of the cars.
“You okay?” Mack asked, nodding to her knee, which had been shaking for the past five minutes. “You’re as fidgety as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she said, pressing her foot into the floor of the truck to stop it from shaking. “It’s just that…well…I got married not long after high school, and this last year my focus has been on the kids…and it just feels a little pathetic that this is the first date I’ve been on in eight years, and it isn’t even real.” She wrapped the strap tighter until it suddenly gave way and snapped apart in her hands. “Oh shoot.”
Tears threatened as she stared down at the two torn pieces.
“Hey, now,” Mack said, sliding an arm around her shoulder and pulling her to him. “We don’t have to do this. The last thing I want is to think that going out on a date with me makes you cry.”
She shook her head against his shoulder and huffed out a small laugh. “It’s not you. You’re amazing…”
“And so damn hot, if I recall the words you used yesterday,” he said, obviously trying to tease a smile out of her.
She laughed again. “Yes, and so damn hot that any girl would be lucky to go out with you.” She blew out a breath. “It’s just been a long time. I haven’t really been out on a date since high school. I don’t remember how to even act.”
“I get it. All those months I was in Texas, I was working so hard, and only left the ranch a few times, so it’s been a dang long time since I’ve been out on a date, as well. But I can honestly say, you’re the only woman I’ve wanted to take on a date in years, even if it is a fake one.”
“That’s sweet, but I’m not sure that takes the pressure off.”
He chuckled. “There’s no pressure. And I’m serious, we don’t have to do this at all. If this makes you uncomfortable, I’m happy to take you home. We can pick up a pizza on the way.”
The idea of going home, putting on comfy pants, and scarfing down a pizza did sound appealing.
She lifted her chin. “No. I can do this. I’m just being silly. Lyle always said I tended to be overdramatic.”
Mack’s easy expression darkened. “First of all, you need to stop giving two shits about what Lyle said about anything. That guy is a fool and an idiot and a few other choice words that I probably shouldn’t say in front of a lady. You’re not being silly. Or overdramatic. You’re being honest. And real. And you have every right to feel whatever you’re feeling.”
“Thank you,” she whispered around the sudden lump in her throat. Apparently, there were still good men left in this world.
And if she could just get over herself, she could go out on a fake date with one of them.
Author Bio:
Jennie Marts is the USA TODAY Best-selling author of award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading in years.”
She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet who loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.
Her books range from western romance to cozy mysteries but they all have the charm and appeal of quirky small town life. She loves genre-mashups like adding romance to her Page Turners cozy mysteries and creating the hockey-playing cowboys in the Cowboys of Creedence. The same small town community comes to life with more animal antics in her latest Creedence Horse Rescue series. And her sassy heroines and hunky heroes carry over in her heartwarming, feel good romances from Hallmark Publishing. Take the Honey and Run is her newest cozy mystery in the A Bee Keeping Mystery series.
Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, Twitter at @JennieMarts, and at jenniemartswriter on Instagram. Visit her at www.jenniemarts.com and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest news and releases.
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
—
Book Review for Love You Always by Stacy Travis
Buttercup
Hill #5
Love You Always by
Stacy
Travis
Published: March
12, 2025 by Fast Turtle Press
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Ever heard the one about the rom-com princess who gets swept off her feet by her fake fiancé?
Yeah, that’s not my story.
I’m an actress whose reputation is currently circling the drain, thanks to a string of public relationship disasters. All I want is to adopt a baby and leave my tabloid trainwreck days behind me.
When the adoption agency doubts my ability to provide a stable home life, I agree to a fake engagement with a guy who screamed “PR-approved.”
Easy enough—until Archer Corbett blows it all to pieces.
He’s a broody, hockey-playing winemaker who makes grumbling an art form. He also hates my fake fiancé—pretty sure “douchebag” was in there somewhere—and doesn’t care who knows it. But when Archer rescues me on the side of the road and keeps me safe, I discover there’s more under his scowl than grunts and muscles.
A lot more.
Turns out, Archer has a guarded heart, a fierce loyalty to his family, and a self-sacrificing streak a mile wide. He’s also infuriatingly hot—and impossible to resist. One stolen kiss turns into carwash-steamy nights and a bond I didn’t see coming. But there’s a problem: he doesn’t want kids, and I can’t imagine a life without them.
Our lives don’t fit together. Our dreams are miles apart. But what if Archer’s exactly what I need to rewrite my story? And what if I’m the one to thaw his frozen heart?
If only this were a movie, I might get the happily ever after I’ve always wanted.
My Thoughts:
Archer and Ella make a perfect match. The story captivated me, and I didn’t
want it to end. Ella’s arrival at the winery sparked an instant attraction
between them. Despite Archer's efforts to resist—Ella was engaged—their
chemistry couldn’t be denied. Ella saw past Archer’s grumpiness to his true
self and fell for him.
Characters from other books in the series appear, allowing
readers to catch up on their storylines. It's enjoyable to see familiar
characters, but this book is a standalone and doesn't require reading previous
books in the series.
Love You Always has a
HEA but there is an amazing story for them to get there.
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book via Bookfunnel
in exchange for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Writing makes her infinitely happy, but that might be the
coffee talking. She drinks a LOT of it.
She’s worked as a journalist, camp counselor, TV writer, SAT
tutor, corporate finance researcher, education technology editor, and
non-fiction author. When she’s not on a deadline, she’s in running shoes
complaining that all roads seem to go uphill. Or on the couch with a margarita.
Or fangirling at a soccer game.
She’s never met a dog she didn’t want to hug. And if you
have no plans for Thanksgiving, she’ll probably invite you to dinner.
Stacy lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and a
poorly-trained rescue dog who hoards socks. And she’s serious about the
Thanksgiving thing.
Background music while writing generally includes U2, Lizzo,
Billy Joel, Taylor Swift, Pink, and Led Zeppelin. Not necessarily in that
order.
Come find me and say hello!
FB: stacytravis
Insta: @stacytravisauthor
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Release Blitz for Out of the Shadows by Christina Sol
Out of the Shadows by Christina Sol is now live!
He's the founder of Hudson Security.
Intense, smoking hot, and former special forces.
He's also her boss and long-time friend, but when danger explodes around them, they're drawn together by a passion neither can deny.
Sabrina "Bean" Ventura is one of the most skilled hackers in the world. She's the unseen force behind Hudson Security, unraveling secrets from the safety of the shadows. With a lifetime of solitude and a hardened heart, she's learned to keep her distance--no relationships, no attachments. She has one job and one job only: find the intel and take down the bad guys. However, when one of their own is threatened, everything changes.
Gavin Frazier is a man with one primary focus: protecting those under his care. As the head of Hudson Security, he's ruthless in his pursuit of safety for his clients and employees. There's no time for distractions. But when Bean is injured, his protective instincts flame to life in ways he never expected. She's more than his employee and trusted friend, she's everything he can't seem to resist.
As the danger around them escalates, Gavin's desire to protect Bean grows--as does the undeniable chemistry between them. While they race against time to stop an unknown enemy, they must trust each other like never before or risk losing everything--including their chance at love.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://christinasol.co/OutOfTheShadows
Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/OutOfTheShadowsHudson
Goodreads: https://christinasol.co/Goodreads-OutOfTheShadows
Meet Christina Sol
Award-winning author Christina Sol writes what she loves to read - romance filled with heart, heat, and suspense.
When Christina's not writing, reading, or knitting, she's watching football or fueling her washi, sticker & planner obsession.
Christina lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two children.
Connect with Christina
Website | www.christinasol.com
Goodreads | https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8192185.Christina_Sol
Amazon | https://bit.ly/3E5M2cw
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/christinasol.author
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/christinasol.author/
Bookbub | https://www.bookbub.com/profile/christina-solSpotlight for Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths by Valerie Nieman
Upon the Corner of the Moon: A Tale of the Macbeths by Valerie
Nieman
Published: March 11,
2025 by Regal House Publishing
Add to your MUST-READ list on
Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Book Review for Naples 1944: The Devil's Paradise at War by Keith Lowe
Naples 1944: The Devil's Paradise at War by Keith Lowe
Published: March 11, 2025 by St. Martin's Press
Genre: Nonfiction, Italy, WWII
Keith Lowe has chronicled the end of WWII in Europe in his award-winning book Savage
Continent and the war’s aftermath in the sequel, The Fear and
the Freedom. In Naples 1944, he brings readers
another masterful chronicle of the terrible and often unexpected consequences
of war. Even before the fall of Mussolini, Naples was a place of great
contrasts filled with palaces and slums, beloved cuisine and widespread hunger.
After the Allied liberation, these contrasts made the city instantly notorious.
Compared to the starving population, Allied soldiers were staggeringly wealthy.
For a packet of cigarettes, even the lowest ranks could buy themselves a watch,
a new suit or a woman for the night. As the biggest port in Allied hands,
Naples quickly became the center of Italy’s black market and has remained so
ever since. Within just a few months the Camorra began to re-establish itself.
Behind the chaos and the corruption, there was always the threat of violence.
Army guns were looted and traded. Gangs of street kids fought running battles
with the military police. Public buildings, booby-trapped by departing Germans,
began to explode, seemingly spontaneously.
Then in March 1944 - like an omen - Vesuvius erupted. Naples was the first
major European city to be liberated by the Allies. What they found there would
set a template for the whole of the rest of Europe in the years to come. Keith
Lowe’s Naples 1944 is a page-turning book about a city on the
brink of chaos and glimpse into the dark heart of postwar Italy.
My Thoughts:
I am not a nonfiction
book reader, usually. But this book
called to me. I am a huge WWII reader
and I love when I find a book that tells the story of something I do not know a
lot about. Naples is a part of WWII that
I did not know much about, other than it is in Italy.
Naples 1944 is a true nonfiction book. There are parts of stories within each chapter but it reads as nonfiction. I found it be a slow read with many facts and attention to details. I was able to picture Naples as the Allies found it destroyed from the Nazi’s leaving. The devastation was complete and the paradise they were promised did not exist.
The book is full of facts, at time the facts seemed overwhelming and I would have liked more narrative. It is a book that I read over a long period of time and while reading a fiction book to give my brain a break from all the facts.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy onAmazon
His latest book, Naples 1944,
describes the liberation of Italy, and the political and economic chaos that
followed. Naples was the first major city to be liberated by the Allies, and
suffered a series of crises, including hunger, sexual exploitation, a typhus
epidemic and a volcanic eruption. This is the first book in the English
language to describe the history of Naples during this crucial period of the
Second World War.
Lowe regularly speaks on TV and radio, and he
often lectures on postwar history at venues across Europe and North America. He
has written for a variety of newspapers and journals, including the Daily
Telegraph, The Times, the Wall Street Journal, El Paìs and
the NeueZürcherZeitung. He serves on the historical advisory board
for Liberation Route Europe, and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Release Blitz for Only Fate by Charity Ferrell
Only Fate by Charity Ferrell is now live!
When a guy breaks your heart, he's not supposed to move to your small town to win it back.
I hoped to never see Adrian Castillo again after he broke my heart.
Years later, he's made it his mission to keep running into me.
He gets hired at the law firm where I work and steals my promotion.
I quit and start my own firm in my small town.
I didn't expect him to follow me here.
I definitely didn't expect him to join a rival town firm.
And now, we have a case against each other.
All the emotions I had for him resurface.
I'm afraid to give him my heart again.
But fate has other plans.
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://bit.ly/42jjJl0
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3PEKk4z
Meet Charity
Charity Ferrell is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, #1 Amazon, and #1 Apple bestselling author. She resides in Indianapolis, Indiana. Angst is her happy place, and she loves writing about flawed people finding love.
Connect with Charity
Website: https://charityferrell.com
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/10Vc9LI
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eUGG2R
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcharityferrell
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/146574179377161
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charityferrell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/charity_ferrell
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@charityferrell
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/charity-ferrell
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/charityjferrell/Spotlight for The Usual Family Mayhem by HelenKay Dimon
The Usual Family Mayhem by HelenKay
Dimon
Published: March 11, 2025 by Avon
Genre: Romance,
Mystery
Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors—her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags’ Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in “best friend” Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal…and now she has a problem.
Mags and Celia aren’t interested, which isn’t a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they’re hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business.
As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia’s nephew and Kasey’s long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey’s boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands—even if those husbands deserve it—might be impossible…but Kasey never shied away from a challenge.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Meet the Author(taken from her website): HelenKay Dimon is a former divorce lawyer turned bestselling author of more than 40 Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, and Erotic Romance books and novellas. Her books have been featured in various national and international venues and she has had two books named Red-Hot Reads in Cosmo magazine. She is a four-time RITA® Award finalist in romantic suspense (for Mr. and Mr. Smith, Facing Fire, Guarding Mr. Fine and The Fixer) and is 2018 RITA® Award winner for The Fixer. She’s also a Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award winner in romantic suspense for The Fixer. In addition to writing, HelenKay is Chair of the Policy Advisory Committee of the Romance Writers of America and frequently teaches workshops and classes on fiction writing and romance writing. She lives in San Diego where she is (or should be) working on her next series but might be streaming a show on Netflix.
Book Review for Girl Anonymous by Christina Dodd
Girl Anonymous by Christina
Dodd
Published: March 11, 2025 by Canary Street Press
Genre: Romance,
Mystery, Thriller
As a child, Maarja Daire saw her mother ignite an explosion that killed vengeful mob boss Benoit Arundel—and herself—to save Maarja’s life. Maarja’s been on the run ever since…fleeing from intimacy, from love, from consequences.
Now an adult, Maarja hides in plain sight as a fine arts mover, transporting priceless belongings. Work for a new client brings her to the mansion where the fateful blast from her childhood occurred. There she meets Dante, the ruthless, scarred and brooding Arundel family boss. He watches her with dark intent…but does he remember her? Will he use her to take revenge for his father’s death? A chance turn of events earns her his trust, when she courageously leaps into flames to rescue his mother. And what happens between them in the darkness sets their worlds on fire, as Maarja recklessly abandons her lifelong caution and self-imposed isolation.
Dante calls the urgency between them Fate. Maarja denies him, struggles against his domination and fights the slow erosion of her resistance. When he vows to end the ancient feud, his hidden enemies seize the opportunity to destroy him and the woman he will do anything to protect. Bound together by destruction, passion and destiny, Dante and Maarja must navigate uncharted depths of betrayal and loss, to create a new beginning…before the flames of the vendetta consume them.
My Thoughts: *Girl Anonymous* isn't my usual read,
but I couldn't put it down. Even when I had to, I kept thinking about it. I was
eager to see if Maarja found her HEA. Dante's commanding and mob boss persona
frightened me. I feared for Maarja and Dante throughout the book.
This book is filled with magical realism, darkness, and
action. I enjoyed Maarja and Dante's history together. However, the ah-ha
moment was predictable for me and didn't have the impact I hoped for.
This is my first Christina Dodd book, and I look forward to
more.
Thank you Canary Street Press for a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange
for my honest review.
Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads
Purchase your own copy on Amazon
Ultimately she
discovered she liked to read romance best because the relationship between a
man and a woman is always humorous. A woman wants world peace, a clean house,
and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love.
A man wants a Craftsman router, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red
Corvette which will make his bald spot disappear.
When Christina’s first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to
write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much
trouble could one little infant be?
Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before she
was published. Now her suspense, paranormal, historical, and mystery novels
have been translated into 30 languages and sold more than 15 million copies in
print. Praised for her “brilliantly etched characters, polished writing, and
unexpected flashes of sharp humor that are pure Dodd” (Booklist), her
award-winning books have landed on numerous Best of the Year lists and, much to
her mother's delight, Dodd was once a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword
puzzle. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest, where her 700
lavender plants share the yard with her husband’s various “Big Projects,”
including a treehouse, zipline, and their very own Stonehenge.
Enter Christina’s worlds and join her mailing list for humor, book news and
entertainment (yes, she’s the proud author with the infamous three-armed cover)
at christinadodd.com. For more information on A DAUGHTER OF FAIR VERONA, visit
daughterofmontague.com. Her legions of fans know that when they pick up a
Christina Dodd book, they'll find the story, "Wildly entertaining,
wickedly witty!"
Christina is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many
Craftsman tools.
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